E-Day Celebrates Region’s Business Community

edayLOGO-2013The Northwest ISBDC will salute this year’s standout entrepreneurs and advocates at its 22nd annual Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards (E-Day) luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 6 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville.

The event is open to the public and includes the awards presentation as well as keynote speaker Scott Albanese of Albanese Confectionery. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased by visiting www.edayleaders.com/luncheon. Table sponsorships are also available. For more information, contact our offices at (219) 644-3513 or northwest@isbdc.org.

“We look forward to welcoming a new class of outstanding business community members to our E-Day family,” said Lorri Feldt, NW-ISBDC regional director.

The 2013 E-Day winners include:

  • Small Business Person of the Year: Peter Nau, Hammond Machine Works, Hammond
  • Entrepreneurial Success of the Year: Leon Dombrowski, Accucraft Imaging/Merge, Hammond
  • Emerging Business of the Year: Kelly Jackson and Jennifer Cowger, North Star Services LLC, Dyer
  • Woman-Owned Business of the Year: Desila Rosetti, Organizational Development Solutions, Westville
  • Minority-Owned Business of the Year: Roxanne Perkins and Jacqueline Woods, delicious deep freeze, Chesterton
  • Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year: Robert J. Flude III, Martin Binder Jeweler, Valparaiso
  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Brad Hindsley, Spire Catering and Event Planning, LaPorte
  • Garry Bradley Small Business Advocate of the Year: Gerald Bishop, Gerald M Bishop & Associates, Merrillville
  • Women in Business Champion: Andrea Pearman, Diversified Marketing Strategies, Crown Point
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Pete Peuquet, Chester Inc., Valparaiso

Serving seven counties in the region, the NW-ISBDC offers no-cost assistance for entrepreneurs starting or expanding their businesses. Through one-on-one consulting, the NWI SBDC helps guide small businesses toward their goals by offering referrals, workshops, training opportunities and other essential business tools. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration, the State of Indiana and other local partners.

For more information, visit www.nwisbdc.org.